This article is part of a series on HIV/AIDS and Disability.

Research

Sexual vulnerability and HIV seroprevalence among the deaf and hearing impaired in Cameroon

Adonis Touko¹ , Célestin P Mboua^2,3 , Peter M Tohmuntain¹ and Anne B Perrot⁴

¹  Cameroon Psychology Forum, Blv Rudolph Manga Bell, Immeuble Mony Onana, P.O. Box 8030 Yaounde, Cameroon

²  Cameroon Psychology Forum and University of Yaounde 1, Blv Rudolph Manga Bell, Bd 2.002, P.O. Box 8030 Yaounde, Cameroon

³  Department of Psychology, University of Yaounde 1, P.O. Box 755 Yaounde, Cameroon

⁴  Care International in Cameroon, 1071, Avenue Winston Churchill, P.O. Box 422 Yaounde, Cameroon

author email corresponding author email

Journal of the International AIDS Society 2010, 13:5doi:10.1186/1758-2652-13-5

Published:	4 February 2010

Abstract

Background

This quantitative cross-sectional study examines sexual behaviour of a target group of hearing-impaired persons in Yaounde, the capital city of the Republic of Cameroon. It measures their HIV prevalence to enable assessment of their sexual vulnerability and to help reduce the gap in existing HIV serology data among people with disabilities in general and the deaf in particular.

Methods

The snowball sampling procedure was adopted as an adequate approach to meet this hard-to-reach group. A total of 118 deaf participants were interviewed for the behavioural component, using sign language as a means of data collection, while 101 participants underwent HIV serology testing. Descriptive analyses were done for behavioural data with Epi info software, while sera were tested by health personnel, using rapid and confirmation test reagents.

Results

From the results, it was clear that the hearing impaired were highly involved in risky sexual practices, as observed through major sexual indicators, such as: age at first sexual intercourse; condom use; and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and AIDS. Furthermore, it was noted that the HIV prevalence rate of the hearing impaired in the capital of Cameroon was 4%, close to the prevalence in the city's general population (4.7%).

Conclusions

Such results suggest that there is a need for in-depth behavioural research and serological studies in this domain to better understand the determinants of risky sexual behaviour among the hearing impaired, and to propose operational prevention approaches for this group.